I grew up swimming which resulted in dry, brittle hair. Now that I've said goodbye to the daily pool sessions, I've been able to focus on taking care of my locks and incorporating a routine that helps them grow long and strong. So what exactly are the methods and products I've adopted? Well, I'm giving away my secrets that have resulted in the healthiest hair I've EVER had. 1. Skip the Washing. In high school, I was using shampoo and conditioner on my hair every day. Despite the frequent washes, my hair always felt so greasy. I finally spoke to my stylist and found that I was just washing too frequently. In fact, "natural oils are so good for the hair and if the hair is washed too often, it can cause an imbalance,” said celebrity hairstylist, Matt Fugate. What I finally decided to do was "train" my hair to go longer between washes. The result was that my scalp wasn't getting oily in between washes as quickly and my hair was shiny and less-brittle. 2. Eat Right. Believe it or not, diet can impact the health of your hair. A few years ago, I saw that first-hand when I adopted more nutrient rich foods and began skipping those that hold no nutritional value. What I found is that drinking plenty of water, taking vitamins (including vitamin C and iron) and eating greens, along with foods low in sugar and high in healthy fat aided my cause. Additional ingredients that help promote positive hair health include high ORAC-value foods, "such as berries and dark chocolate, and unexpected things, such as oregano and cloves, which you can dump in and on anything." Nutritionist Lisa Drayer's beauty food staples via Allure:
3. Go Easy on the Heat. What would happen if you spent too much time in the heat? You'd get bad sunburns and you'd probably end up with sun poisoning. Too much heat isn't healthy, and this is also true for your hair. One way to cut down on using heat tools is to air dry your hair. I started doing this in high school and within a few weeks, I noticed less split ends and breakage. While I still use a straightener everyday (can't help it), I'm sure to use a good heat protectant that will minimize the damage. 4. Choose the Right Products. Products can literally make or break your hair, so it's important to choose the right ones and not overdo it. Hair care is not one size fits all, so talk with a hairstylist about choosing the right shampoo, conditioner, and serums for your hair type. When it comes to any product, try to avoid ingredients like dyes, chlorine, sulfates, and fragrance as these lead to hair damage. Currently I'm using DoTerra's Protecting Shampoo and Silk 18 Conditioner which helps to tame frizz and leave my hair smooth and nourished. One benefit of using Silk 18 is the smell. It smells like warm vanilla and maple. YUM! You can learn more about hair damage and how to tame it within this article. 5. Skip the Towel. Believe it or not, towels lead to lots and lots of frizz. There's an easy solution to this; however. Use a t-shirt! This method leaves you with less damage and is the best way to absorb excess water. Who knew?! 6. Put Down the Brush. ...Only when your hair is wet. Brushing before your hair is dry causes breakage. "While brushing hair regularly will help stimulate the roots and promote faster growth, brushing right after washing is terrible news for the hair’s bonds – that once broken, are difficult to get back to their former glory" (via Marie Claire UK). Do you have any hair secrets worth sharing? Let me know in the comments below.
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